PHOTO GALLERY ()

The Arizona K5 Blazer Contest

A call from a friend alerted us to a good time to be had with a group of older fullsize domestics, so we jumped at the chance to head to the desert. ArizonaK5 is a Phoenix-area group of Chevy 4WD enthusiasts who camp and wheel together. They had a plan to gather for a second annual K5 contest at a local OHV site.

The stock class winner was Thad Fleming in his vintage ’79 Chevy—with an 8-foot bed, no less. The truck’s drivetrain remains much the way it came from the factory over three decades ago. 35-inch Swampers on a 142-inch wheelbase don’t offer great break-over clearance, but Fleming threaded his way through the rocks successfully.

Two classes competed: Stock and Modified. There was an obstacle course and a short rockcrawling course. Each competitor started with 100 points and was given a time limit to complete each of the courses. Competitor points were deducted for backing up, hitting cones, or going out of bounds. There were also a few bonus obstacles where drivers could add points to their final score.

The obstacle course consisted of loose hillclimbs, tight turns, twisty wash crossings, and a couple of tricky downhill sections. The rock course followed a boulder-strewn wash. The action was entertaining, and spectators were witness to a bit of carnage on the rock course. It’s plain hard not to enjoy some good dirt action from vintage American iron!

If you’re local and want to meet up with fellow K5ers, look for more information in the forums at www.arizonak5.com.